Judge Kieran O'Connor advised two addicts to help each other remain drug-free when he jailed them for terms of nine and eight years for robbery.
Stephen Power and Paul Furlong are to return to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on June 28th, 1999, and if both are drug-free for six months and have pursued an educational course in prison, they may be released.
Judge O'Connor told them: "Your future is in your own hands now. Compare notes about how stupid you both have been in taking drugs, but I'm giving you both a huge incentive to either become decent citizens or serve the full sentences."
Power (28), of Ballyfermot Road, Ballyfermot, was jailed for nine years for taking £50 at syringe-point from a local shop during a robbery on March 18th, 1997. Furlong (29), of Tyrone Place, Inchicore, was jailed for eight years for attempted robbery of a petrol station shop on July 26th, 1997.
Det Sgt Gabriel O'Gara told prosecuting counsel, Mr Brendan Mulhall, that the female shop assistant recognised Power, as he was a regular customer. She opened the till for him after seeing the syringe needle and was very shocked at the experience.
Sgt Patrick Crowne told Mr Mulhall that Furlong asked for a packet of crisps in the service station shop and then jumped up on the counter but could not get the electronic till open. He ran off empty-handed but was held by a nearby pub bouncer who heard the female assistant's screams.
The defence counsel for both men, Mr Luigi Rea, said their cases were very similar, with drug addiction at the root. Both were fathers of young children and accepted they needed help to rid themselves of the psychological craving for drugs.